Understanding Diabetes and Its Effects on Your Vision
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that can have a range of effects on the human body. One of the major concerns for people with diabetes is their vision. It's important to be aware of how diabetes can affect your eyesight so you can take the necessary steps to protect it. Let's take a look at what happens to your eyes when you have diabetes.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is likely the most common complication associated with diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina, which is located in the back of your eye. This damage can lead to swelling, leaking, or blocked blood vessels, all of which can result in vision loss.
In its early stages, Diabetic Retinopathy may not cause any symptoms or impair your vision. As it progresses, however, you may notice symptoms such as blurred vision, difficulty seeing colours clearly, and floaters (spots that float across the field of vision).
The longer you have diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), the more likely you are to develop Diabetic Retinopathy.
Some factors that can increase your risk of Diabetic Retinopathy include:
Elevated blood sugar levels
Elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
Elevated cholesterol levels
Cataracts
Cataracts are another vision problem linked to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. They happen when proteins build up on the lens of the eye and cause it to become cloudy or opaque. This cloudiness affects how light passes through the lens into your eye and can make it difficult to see clearly. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can help to accelerate this process, resulting in cataract formation in young adults.
Symptoms include blurry vision and sensitivity to light; in severe cases, cataracts can even lead to blindness if left untreated. Fortunately, modern cataract surgery techniques allow eye doctors to replace the affected lens with an artificial one and restore lost vision quickly and safely.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions caused by increased pressure inside the eye due to inadequate drainage of fluid from within it. People with diabetes and higher A1C readers are more likely than those without diabetes to develop Glaucoma because they tend to have higher intraocular pressures (IOPs).
Symptoms of Glaucoma may include:
Headaches.
Pain around the eyes.
Halos around lights.
Tunnel vision.
Gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision eventually leads to complete blindness if left untreated.
Treatment typically involves medications or surgery depending on Glaucoma symptoms' severity and progression rate.
Conclusion:
Diabetes can have severe consequences for your eyesight if left unmanaged or untreated for too long. If you have Diabetes, it's important that you get regular eye exams with an eye doctor. The optometrists at Helio are well-trained to help detect and manage the early stages of Diabetic Eye Disease. Contact us today to set up your annual diabetic eye exam with Helio Optometry.
